Building construction



Nov. 17, 1925- 1, 1 573 H. C. SMITH BUILDING cous'rnucmor'z F l M r 19245 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNE Y.

Nov. 17 1925.

-H. c. SMITH BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 29, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

f ATTORNEY.

Nev. '17, 1925- 1,561,573

H. 0. SMITH BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 29, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5j INVHEQNTOR.

AT ORNEY.

Nov. 17,1925- 573,

H. c. SMITH BUILDING CONSTRUCTION I Filed March 29, 1924 '5 Sheets-Sheet4 A TORNE Y.

Patented Nov. 17, 1925. V

UNITED STATES HENRY COLLIER SMITH, OF ST. MARYS, OHIO.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

'Application filed March 29, 1924. Serial No. 702,789.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY COLLIER SMITH, a citizen of the United States,and residing at St. Marys, in the county of Auglaize and State of Ohio,have invented a new and Improved Building Construction, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention consists of interchangeable interlocked wall face membersand supporting members that are also interlocked with the interlockededges of wall face members, all of such members being preferably made ofsheet metal of gauges or thicknesses corresponding to the weights to becarried. The face or wall members can be transversely ribbed to givetheir surfaces greater stiffness, and they can be perforated toprovideholes to receive the keys of a stuccoed or plastered covering orsurface. Itfurther consists in so forming the edges of the face andsupporting members that they may be interlocked and be thereby kept intheir respective and relative positions. It also consists in the detailsof construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of a hollow or doublesurface wall. Fig. 2 is a detail of a joint between the side or wallplates of this partition and the spacing member between them. Figs. 3 to18 inclusive are details of other types of joints embodying the presentinvention. Fig. 19 is a plan of the metal-work of a partition. Fig. 20is an elevation and Fig. 21 an end view of a spacing member adapted tobe used in walls embodying the present invention. Fig. 22 is a sideelevation of the joint between two side plates and a spacing member.Fig. 23 is a vertical section of a build ing structure at the line wherea partition rests on a wall. Fig. 24 is a horizontal section showing theconnection between two walls crossing each other. Fig. 25 is a verticalsection of a roof. Fig. 26 is a horizontal section through a windowcasing. Fig. 27 is a similar section across a modified form of spacingmember, and Fig. 28 is a horizontal section showing a single surfacedwall and one of the supporting members.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

The present invention relates to walls and partitions and theconstructions shown as embodying the invention can be used incomparatively light gauges of metal without reinforcement for singlestory buildings havinglight roof construction. For two stor buildings orsingle story buildings with heavy roof construction, heavier gauges ofmetal can be used, and if necessary reinforced. The reinforcementreferred to consists of filling certain spaces in the wall with concreteor the use of cylindrical, rectangular or other shaped metal columnsplacedinside of the wall spaces in order to afford the necessary weightcarryin strength for the support of floors and roo s. Where the weightto be carried is not excessive, heavier gauges of-sheet metal can beused in the construction of the wall plates and supports, thus affordingthe necessary strength. The building members shown comprise wall platesinterlocked together and transverse supporting or spacing memberswhich-interlock with the vertical edges of the wall plates. The wallplates can be perforated to receive plaster or they can be leftunperforated to form the completed face of the wall. The wall plates maybe trans versel beaded to afford stiffness or they can be le tunbeade-d. The joints between adjacent edges of the wall plates and ofthe spacing members are so designed that the parts can be interlockedwithout the use of tools, and the spacing or supporting members may beprovided with perforated flanges at their upper and lower ends wherebythey may be attached to floors and ceilings or to wood strips or metalbars which are secured to foundations or floors and roofs or ceilings.

The sheet metal wall or face plates are of any desired thickness andwidths, and their lengths are preferably the distances between thebottom and top of the spaces where the walls or partitions are to beerected. These plates 1 can be formed with or without transversestiffening ribs 2 as shown in Figs. 19 and 22 and with or without holes3, to permit the keys of plaster to extend through. A spacing member 4,Fig. 21, and 230 and 231, Fig. 27, is shown to be curved transversely inorder to give it columnar stiffness, and, as shown in Fig. 19, can havea flange at each end whereby it may be attached to the floor and ceilingof the building where it is used.

In Fig. 22 I have shown an edge of one of the plates 1 formed withlongitudinal slots 6 to receive the curved tongues 8 on the flanges 5 ofthe spacing member 4, which tongues 8 extend through and are engaged bythe edge 9, Fig. 19, of the adjacent plate. This edge is shownsubstantially semi-cylindrical so that it may be easily slid in belowthe tongues 8. The metal of the side plates which is struck up to formthe slots 6 remains attached to the plates in the form of the tongues 10which position the plates relative to the spacing members. The nails orscrews 11 through the flanges 7 secure the ends of these spacing membersand there-. fore locate the partition. As these plates and spacingmembers can be quickly and easily positioned by one man, a partition canbe erected with minimum labor. If desired, a vertical strip 12 0f woodmay be secured at the end of such a wall to constitute a base for a doorcasing.

The-partition shown in Fig. 19 will be built from the left, each spacingmember 4 being secured at both ends when in position and then theflanges 9 of the next plates are hooked into the hooks 8 of the spacingmembers and these plates swung into position parallel to those alreadyin place, after which another spacing member has its hooks 8 insertedthrough the slots 6. If necessary, the hooks 8 of the spacing member maybe hooked over the small edge flanges 13 at the edges tition. 1

In Figs. 1 and 2, the side plate 14 is formed with a longitudinalgrooved portion 15 beyond which is a flat flange 16. Tongues 17 extendpartly across the cylindrically grooved portion 15. The flange 16 isadapted to extend into the reversely folded edge 18 of the spacingmember which may be flat like the member 19 shown in Fig. 1 so as to fitagainst the fiat wood spacing member 20. These plates 14 also have ribs21 and holes formed by striking up the tongues 22. The edges 23 of theplates opposite the flanges 16 are also cylindrical of these plates 1 atthe end of a parso that they may be inserted in the grooved portions 15with their outer edges back of the tongues 17. The intermediate spacingmembers 24 may be in the form of troughs to secure columnar stiffnessand provided with footing flanges 25 whereby these spacing members maybe secured in position.

After the plaster 27 has been applied to the perforated plates, the doorcasing may be attached to the strip-20, the casing consisting of theparts 28 and 29 as usual, the door 30 being hinged thereto. Nails 31 maybe used to secure the plates 14 to the strip 20. p

The side plates and spacing members may connect in many different ways,as indicated in Figs. 3 to 18 inclusive, but in each of theseembodiments, one of the plates is first hooked or joined onto thespacing member,

after which the other side plate is hooked into place and swung intoposition.

The side plate 32 of Fig. 3 has a reversely bent edge 33 and the spacingmember 34 has a hooked edge 35 which extends between the plate 32 andits edge 33. The plate 36 has an edge 37 which extends into the loop atthe edge of the spacing member. When plaster is applied to these platesand enters the groove between their ends, the three members arepractically locked together.

The plate 38 of Fig. 4 is reversely bent at 39 and has a substantiallycylindrical edge 40. The spacing member 45 has a cylindrical portion 41and a right angled edge 42 which closely interlocks with the plate 38.The plate 43 has a cylindrical edge 44 which fits the part 40 and willbe secured there when the plaster is applied. These plates also havestruck up tongues 22 made when the a ertures to receive the plaster areformed.

Fig. 5 shows the plate 47 bent three times to constitute the parts 48,49 and 50, the spacing member having the right angled parts 51, 52 and53, and the plate 54 with the edge 55 at an angle to its plane. Thissimple construction is easily produced and securely interlocks theseveral members when plastered.

Fig. 6 shows a tongue 56 struck up from the plate 57 to lap over theedge 58 of the,

spacing member 59. The edge 60 of the plate 57 is bent-back and engagesthe edge of the cylindrical roll 61 on the plate 62.

The cylindrical portion 63 of the spacing member engages this roll 61and thus prevents the parts from disengaging except when the plate 62 isunhooked.

In Fig. 7 the spacing member 64 has a .reversely bent edge 65 at aboutright angles to the member 64 to receive the edge 66 of the plate 67.This plate is formed with a cylindrical portion 68 and with a shoulder69 to stop the edge of the cylindrical portion 70 of the plate 71. Thisplate' 71 cannot be detached from the plate 67 except by swinging it toroll the portion 70 within the portion 68 to pass the shoulder 69.

In Fig. 8 the structure is similar to that of Fig. 6 but instead of thetongues 56 being struck up from the plate 57, this plate is bent toconstitute the arm 72.

In the structures shown in Figs. 9 to 18 inclusive, the spacing memberis so interlocked with the side plates that it cannot be removed whenthe two side plates are in alinement. In each of them the edge of thespacing member closely fits the edge of one of the plates and the otherplate is hooked in and then swung around into alinement to interlock thethree members.

In Fig. 9 the plate 74 has parts 75, 76, 77 and 78 which form a channel,the sides 7 6, 77 and 78 being substantially parallel to the parts 7!),and 81 of the spacing member 82. The edge 83 of the plate 84 hooks overlllt parts 78 and 81. and the part 85 of this plate extends parallel tothe parts 77 and 80 to the shoulder 86 on the spacing member. Theseparts are locked rigidly together when plaster fills the channel thusformed.

In Fig. 10 the plate 74 and spacing member 82 are about the same as inFig. 9, but the plate 88 is folded upon itself to constitute the parts89. 90 and 91. and then bent toward the shoulder 86 to constitute theflange 92.

In F ig. 12 the plate 74 and thespacing member 82 are again asin Fig. 9,but the plate 93 has its parts 94, 95, 96 and 97 connecting at rightangles to each other. The effect is the same as in Fig. 9.

In Fig. 11, the spacing member 100 has a cylindrical portion 101 and areversely curved edge 102 which receives the edge 103 of the side plate104 which also has a cylindrical portion 105 to fit the part 101 of thespacing member. After these two are assembled. the cylindrical portion106 of the second side plate 107 is hooked into the joint. made by theother two members, the shoulder 108 on the plate 104 and the shoulder109 on the plate 107 preventing the disengagement of these members.

The structures shown in Figs. 13 and 15 are quite similar. The late 110has the flat portions 111, 112, 113 and 114 at right angles to eachother and the spacing member 115 has fiat portions 117, 116 and 118parallel to the parts 112, 113 and 114. The cylindrical portion 119 ofthe plate 120 is hooked around the parts 114 and 118 while the shoulder121 is parallel to the parts 113 and 116. A portion 122 of the plate 120is parallel to and adapted to engage the portion 118.

In Fig. 15, the ends 123 and 124 of the plate 110 and spacing member 115and the part 125 of the plate 120 are curved in order to improve theinterlock.

The structure in Fig. 14 has all its parts at right angles to eachother. The plate 127 has the flat portions 128, 129, 130 and 131, whilethe spacing member 132 has the portions 133 and 134. The plate 135 hasthe reversely bent portions 136 and 137, and the flat portions 138, 139and 140 parallel to the adjacent portions of the other plate and thespacing member. In the structure shown in Fig. 17, the spacing member132 has an additional portion 141 between the portion 138 of the plate135 and the end 131 of the plate 127.

The structures shown in Figs. 16 and 18 are of the same general type asthat of Fig. 9. The plate 144 has the sections 145, 146, 147 and 148,the last three being parallel to the parts 149, 150 and 151 of thespacing member 152. The parts 149 and 150 connect by means of theportion 153 which extends parallel to the part 154 of the plate 155.This plate terminates in the curved portion 156 and in the edge 157.

The side plate 159 shown in Fig. 18 has the fiat portions 160 and 161,the latter terminating in the semi-cylindrical portion 162 whichconnects it to the parts 163, 164 and 174. The spacing member 165 hasflat portions 166 and 167 connected by a similar semi-cylindricalportion 168 and terminates in a Hat edge 169. The plate 170 is struck upto form a shoulder 171 and terminates in a cylindrical portion 172.

In Fig. 23 I have shown an outer wall constructed to embod my invention.A foundation wall 175 0 any desired construction supports the joists176, floor 177 .and the wall late 178 which may be secured tothe founation wall by means of bolts 179. Studs 180 rest on this wall plate inthe usual manner and the perforated plates 181 are attached to thesestuds, preferably at their edges, but this is immaterial as the verticaledges of these plates 181 may be connected by the spacing membersheretofore described. These plates are again formed with transverse ribs182 and one edge, of each plate is preferably in the form of acylinrical flange 183. After the plaster 184 is applied, the base board185 may be positioned.

In Fig. 24 I have shown four partition walls meeting at a common point.A central stud 189 is first secured in position, after which the plates187 and 188 are attached thereto, preferably by means of the lateralstuds 191 and thenails 190. These plates have the transverse ribs 192.The side plates 193 are then attached to the lateral studs 191, beingformed with cylindrical bearing members 194. The plaster 195, whenapphed, extends into the slots 196 Ighfich are'formed by striking up thetongues Fig. 25 illustrates the use of these plates in roofconstructions. The wall plate 200 rests on studs 203 while a secondplate 202 rests on studs 201 of, a partition wall. The rafters 204 reston these wall plates. Perforated plates 205 are secured to theserafters, plates and studs, these plates being formed with the transverseribs 206, and the tongues 207 are struck up to form slots to receive theplaster.

Fig. 26 illustrates the connection between my improved wall and a windowcasing, the casing comprising the four members 210, 211, 212 and 213constituting the box for the sash weights 214. A spacin strip 215 issecured to the member 210 an the metal spacing member 216 is attached tothis strip 215. The member 216 has rev'ersely bent edge portions 217terminating in cylindrical edges 218, between which and the cylindricalparts 219 parallelthereto extend the cylindrical edges 220 of the plates221 which receive the plaster 222.

In many cases the struck up tongues 22 may be used to assist in securingthe side plates and the spacing members together, as indicated in Figs.3, and 7 where the tongues 22 are so located that the spacing membercannot unhook. These ton es can be formed at proper points on all t eother side plates.

. The wall units may be divided into .two sections by means of sheets ofmetal or boards of asbestos or other earthen compounds by forming thespacing members with vertical grooves to position these sheets orboards.

In Fig. 27 I have shown side plates 225 provided with inwardly extendingflanges 226, longitudinal flanges 227 ,and outwardly extending hooks 228and 229. The spacing member is formed of two parts 230 and 231, eachhaving a vertical socket 232 to receive the boards 233, and with hooks234 and 235 respectively.

The wall is built from the right to the left in Fig. 27, the spacingmember 231, andthe board 233 to the right being positioned as the lastside plates are swung into alinement. The second spacing member 230 ,isthen placed in position, after which the left hand side plates 225 arehooked in and swung around into alinement. The small flanges 236 at theends of the hooks 228 prevent these last positioned plates fromdisengaging and thus hold all the members in proper position. It isevident that the wall may be constructed with only one finished face. InFig. 28, the metal supporting member 240 is folded up from sheet metal,the edges 241 and 242 being engaged hook 243 on the side plate 244 andhook 245 on the side plate 246. The side plate 244 is secured inposition by the plate 246. It is evident that such supporting members asare shown in Figs. 27 and 28 can be filled with concrete and thenconstitute strong and rigid posts to carry floors and other structures.Such posts may be employed in connection with any of the-other wallplates previously described.

These boards may be of any desired material to divide the wall into airspaces so as to reduce the heat and sound conducting properties of thewall. If of non-combustible material, it will prevent the passage offlame even after the plaster has fallen from both sides of the wall.

These several embodiments of my ideas show to some extent the scope ofmy invention, but many other modifications may be produced by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention asset forth in the following claims, all of such modifications embodyingthe face or side plates provided with transverse ridges to stifi'en thembetween their longitudinal edges.

I claim:-

1. In a building construction, a wall embodying two parallel verticalsets of sheet metal plates to form vertical surfaces, the plates of eachset extending the height of the wall and having its vertical edges bentto constitute hooks, and upright spacing members extending acrossbetween the two sets of sheets and having their vertical edges in the,form of hooks which inter-engage with the hooks of two adjacent sheetsof each surface. e I

2. In a building structure, the combination of vertical sheet metalplates joined extendin across between said parallel sur-' faces anconnecting therewith at the joints between said plates, said spacingmembers having flanges at their ends whereby they may be secured inposition, the edges of the plates and of the spacing members beingformed with interlocking flanges.

4. In a buildin structure, the combination of vertical s eet metalplates joined edge to edge to form two parallel surfaces, and verticalsheet metal spacing members extending across between said parallelsurfaces and connecting therewith at the joints between said plates,said spacing members having flanges at their ends whereby they may besecured in position, the edges of the plates and of the spacing membersbeing formed with interlocking flanges so that whena spacing member isinterlocked with the edges of two parallel plates, an additional platecan be hooked onto the edge of each of said interlocked plates and beswung into the plane thereof.

5.In a building structure, the combination of sheet metal plates joinededge to edge to form two parallel surfaces, and sheet metal spacingmembers extending across between said parallel surfaces and connectingtherewith at the joints between said plates, said plates being formedwith transverse stiffening ribs and with perforations to admit keys ofplaster.

6. In a building structure, the combination of vertical, sheet metalplates joined edge to edge to form two parallel surfaces, and verticalsheet metal spacing members extendin across between said parallelsurfaces an connecting therewith at the joints between said plates, saidspacing members I having flanges at their may be secured in position,the edges of the plates and of the spacing members being formed intohooked interlocking edge portions.

7. In a buildin structure, the combination of vertical 5186b metalplates joined edge to edge to form two parallel surfaces, and verticalsheet metal spacing members extendingacross between said parallelsurfaces and connecting therewith at the joints between said plates,said s acing members having flanges at their en whereby the may besecured in position, one edge of eac of said plates being cylindrical sothat it may be hooked into spaces between the interlocking edges of thespacing member and the next adjacent plate.

8. In a building structure, the combination of sheet metal plates-joinededge to edge to form two parallel surfaces, and sheet metal spacingmembers extending across between said parallel surfaces and connectingtherewith at the joints between the plates.

ends whereby they b d 9. In a building construction, a wall em- 0 yingtwo parallel vertical sets of sheet metal plates to form verticalsurfaces, the plates of each set extending the height of the wall andhaving its vertical edges bent to constitute hooks, and upright spacingmembers extending across between the two sets of sheets and having theirvertical edges in the form of hooks which inter-engage with the hooks oftwo adjacent sheets of each surface, the hook at one edge of each platebeing substantially semi-cylindrical and adapted to be rolled into thehook on the edge of an adjacent sheet to engage therewith to secure theedge of the spacing member thereto.

10. In a building structure, the combination of sheet-metal platesjoined edge to edge 'to form two parallel surfaces, and

sheet metal spacing members extending across between said parallelsurfaces and connecting therewith at the joints between said plates,said plates being formed with transverse stiffening ribs.

HENRY COLLIER SMITH.

